In the coming weeks, Atlanta theaters will produce plays by new voices with strong ties to the city, an important world premiere from the co-director of “The Book of Mormon” and a family-friendly tale about the newspaper-delivery boys who took on Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. Meanwhile, a suburban ensemble will revive Victor Hugo’s epic Parisian tapestry, “Les Misérables.” Here, then, is a look at what is shaping up to be a vibrant new year in theater.
‘Les Misérables’
After a smash run in 2013, the mega-spectacle based on the Victor Hugo epic returns to Aurora Theatre. From a business and artistic perspective, the revival appears to be a smart move. Nearly 11,000 audience members saw the original run, and producing artistic director Anthony Rodriguez says the theater has already sold 7,000 tickets for the remount. In addition, the show was nominated for 15 Suzi Bass Awards and took home five. "I think 'Les Misérables' helped us see that we could meet and exceed people's expectations and continue to raise the bar for our production capability," Rodriguez says. Directed by Justin Anderson, the musical stars Natasha Drena as Fantine, Bryant Smith as Jean Valjean and Kelly Schmidt as Cosette. One person you can expect to see in the house is Schmidt's father, Andy. Rodriguez tells us: "He saw all 42 performances (of the original run) and will see every performance of the remount." Jan. 15-March 1. $20-$50. Aurora Theatre, 128 E. Pike St., Lawrenceville. 678-226-6222, auroratheatre.com.
‘Newsies’
In 1899, New York's newspaper-delivery boys staged a strike that would help launch the modern labor movement. That spunky tale was the source of a 1992 film and, more recently, a Disney musical, which soon plays Atlanta for the first time. According to actor Dan DeLuca, who portrays strike organizer Jack Kelly, it's a classic underdog's tale, with exceptional choreography. "We have the best male dancers in New York City traveling across the country with us," DeLuca says. "They are defying gravity. Their energy is out of this world." The irony of the current state of the newspaper industry is not lost on the performers, either. "It's so funny in this day and age how different the strike would be," says DeLuca, who grew up in Pittsburgh and delivered papers — via minivan. "We could just tweet about it." Jan. 20-25. Tickets start at $33. Broadway in Atlanta. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-855-285-8499, foxtheatre.org/newsies.
‘Tuck Everlasting’
In Natalie Babbitt's fantasy novel for children, a young girl named Winnie Foster is offered a sip of water that could give her everlasting life. To drink or not to drink: That's the question that haunts the story, which has been shaped into a major new musical by playwright Claudia Shear ("Dirty Blonde") and songwriters Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen. While Shear has said she would "guzzle" the life-giving water, director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw says he wouldn't touch it. "Nope," Nicholaw says. "I am so happy with how life goes: the joys and the heartaches and the natural life span that a person goes through." Indeed, Nicholaw has had a pretty good run so far. He's been attached to some of the most popular shows in recent Broadway history: He choreographed "Spamalot," directed and choreographed "The Drowsy Chaperone," and choreographed and co-directed "The Book of Mormon," sharing a directing Tony with "Mormon" co-creator Trey Parker. But after those broad comedies, "Tuck" feels "more introspective and beautiful than the previous shows I've had on Broadway," Nicholaw says. So will this world premiere have a life after Atlanta? "Everyone always has hopes that a show they've worked for years on will make it to Broadway," Nicholaw says. "Our fingers are crossed." Jan. 21-Feb. 22. $21-$75. Alliance Theatre, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-5000, alliancetheatre.org.
‘Bad Jews’
Playwright Joshua Harmon wrote his tale of two cousins fighting over a family artifact while working at Actor's Express on a National New Play Network residency four years ago. Today "Bad Jews" is the third most produced play in the country, according to American Theatre magazine. "I knew this play would have very wide appeal when I first read it," says Actor's Express artistic director Freddie Ashley. "But when Josh told me that Roundabout Theatre was producing its premiere, I was really gobsmacked in the best possible way. When I went to New York to see the Roundabout production, I walked up and down Sixth Avenue afterward crying like a baby. I've rarely been prouder of anyone than I was of Josh." Now Ashley gets to direct the play about warring cousins Daphna (Galen Crawley) and Liam (Wyatt Fenner), who lock horns after their grandfather's death. Jan. 22-Feb. 22. $20-$45. Actor's Express, 887 W. Marietta St., Suite J-107, Atlanta. 404-607-7469, actors-express.com.
‘Detroit ‘67’
Growing up in Detroit, Dominique Morisseau rarely heard anyone discuss the riot of 1967. So she decided to write a play about it. "I wanted to capture the memories of my parents and elders of Detroit not just in turmoil, but in joy and love and family and fun during times of turmoil," says Morisseau, whose play won the 2014 Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History. In "Detroit '67," siblings Chelle and Lank transform their basement into an after-hours juke joint to make ends meet, and Morisseau uses the music of Motown to energize the story. "Imagine Detroiters just trying to party away their Vietnam blues, while outside the basement, police brutality has the city erupting in flames. Sounds a little too familiar these days." Meanwhile, Morisseau thinks True Colors Theatre is the perfect match for "Detroit '67." "I think Atlanta is one of my most important audiences outside of Detroit to share this work." Feb. 10-March 8. $15-$60. True Colors Theatre. Southwest Arts Center, 915 New Hope Road, Atlanta. 1-877-725-8849, truecolorstheatre.org.
‘Silent Sky’
Atlanta native Lauren Gunderson was something of a wunderkind during her time at Emory University. Her 2004 play, "Leap," about Sir Isaac Newton, was produced while she was still an undergrad. Since then, she has studied dramatic writing at New York University and moved out west. A rising star of the American theater, Gunderson returns to her hometown for "Silent Sky," based on real-life astronomer Henrietta Leavitt (1868-1921). (Atlanta actress Elizabeth Diane Wells will play Leavitt, and David Crowe directs.) As is often the case, Gunderson finds herself inspired by history and science. "'Silent Sky' is an intellectual epic," Gunderson says. "It's also a love story, a story of sisters, a feminist scientist exposé, and a valentine to big ideas that can change the world. Henrietta Leavitt was a very unassuming person, but her discovery and a lifetime of meticulous dedication to astronomy change how we see the universe." As for her homecoming, Gunderson — whose "I and You" recently won the prestigious Steinberg ATCA New Play Award — says: "I imagine all of my plays set in Atlanta even if I don't specify that in the script." Feb. 12-March 1. $30-$35. Theatrical Outfit, 84 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-877-725-8849, theatricaloutfit.org.
‘Homers’
In Jacob York's first major play, an Atlanta sportswriter named Leigh (Diany Rodriguez) gets an offer from a big-time website. But her personal life makes her decision a tough one. York uses the Atlanta sports scene, for better or worse, as a backdrop to the story. "The first few minutes are a recap for those who might not be as aware of the major Atlanta sports teams," York says. "In many ways, I worry it's a play with a very limited shelf life because we're dealing with a very contemporary world. As I was writing it, I was kinda terrified that something would go crazy and the Falcons would win the Super Bowl because that would change so much about the play." Feb. 26-March 15. $25-$35. Georgia Ensemble Theatre, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. 770-641-1260, get.org.
